Josh stared at the glowing icons before him, the air around him humming with quiet anticipation. The others were absorbed in their own decisions: Brett muttering about spell resonance under his breath, Carcan with her eyes half closed as she read through her options, Bhel thoughtfully scratching his beard, and Perberos wearing his usual calm expression with the faintest hint of a smile.
Josh kept his focus fixed on the three choices shimmering before him. Knight, Paladin and Guardian. Each one felt like a mirror held up to a different version of himself. He sat considering all three, the other two had already fallen away in his mind. They were impressive, tempting even, but they did not suit the person he had become.
His thoughts drifted first to the Knight. He pictured himself clad in polished armour, golden sword raised high in discipline and honour. The image felt noble, almost heroic. A banner fluttering behind him, the steady stride of a soldier whose resolve never faltered. There was pride in that image, the kind that could rally a company of fighters. He could see it clearly, himself leading a charge with confidence and conviction.
Then his attention turned to the Paladin. A gentle warmth spread across his chest as he imagined radiant light flowing through him, his strikes carrying not only strength but purpose. He thought of the god who had brought him here, and how this strange new life had begun to feel like both a gift and a burden. He remembered the ache of missing his little sister, the weight of being torn away from everything familiar. The Paladin's path felt like a promise, a chance to make his new purpose mean something.
But then came the last choice. The Guardian. A plain steel shield appeared in his vision, marked with faint runes, glowing softly. It lacked the flourish and grandeur of the other options, yet there was something undeniably steady about it. Something true.
The description was simple:
Guardian: The Wall Between Darkness and Light.
You have chosen to protect others above all else. Your presence alone inspires resilience. You do not fight for glory or divine favour, but because those behind you matter more than yourself.
Josh let out a slow breath. The weight of those words settled into him with quiet certainty. His best moments had never been when he struck the final blow or rushed ahead. They had been in the moments when his shield intercepted an attack meant for someone else. When Brett could cast freely because Josh stood firm. When Carcan could heal without fear because he took the hit.
He felt a faint smile touch his lips as the decision crystallised.
"Yes," he whispered, the words steady and sure. "That fits."
He reached out and selected Guardian.
Josh felt the world shift beneath him, as though the earth itself had drawn a long, steady breath. A low hum rolled through his body, deep and resonant, settling in his bones. Light pulsed at the edges of his vision, soft at first, then bright enough that he instinctively blinked against it. Mana surged through him in a way he had never felt before, not wild or overwhelming, but heavy and grounding, as though it recognised him.
His skin grew warm. His muscles tightened. Something within him turned, a quiet but momentous change. When he lifted his shield, it no longer felt like an object he was holding. It felt anchored to him, part of an invisible chain that connected him to the floor, the air, and the people behind him.
Then the system chimed.
[Class Advanced: Guardian]
You have chosen the path of defence and duty. New passive and active skills available. Existing skills may evolve.
More notifications appeared in a steady cascade of golden light.
Upgraded Skills
Shield Bash → Shield Slam - Now imbued with concussive force. Enemies struck have a higher chance to be stunned, and damage now scales with Strength and Constitution.
Fortify → Iron Resolve - Reduces incoming damage further. Stamina drain is slower, allowing the stance to be held for longer periods.
Lion’s Roar → Guardian’s Call - This skill still forces nearby enemies to focus on the guardian, but now grants allies temporary boosts to defence and stamina regeneration.
Josh watched the changes unfold, each description appearing like a line in an ancient tome being turned by some unseen librarian. His breath caught slightly. These were not small upgrades. They were leaps.
Next, new abilities followed, flowing into his view like water.
Intercept. The moment he saw the word, his heart gave a small thud.
Instantly move between an enemy’s attack and a chosen ally, taking the blow in their place.
He could picture it so clearly. Brett chanting a spell, unaware of the danger creeping toward him. Carcan healing Bhel while a dagger swung for her back. Perberos focusing on a shot at exactly the wrong moment. And Josh, moving without hesitation.
He scrolled slowly through the glowing list, the pale blue light brushing against the tired planes of his face. Every new line stitched deeper into him. The Guardian class settled not like a dramatic burst, but like a new foundation poured quietly under his feet.
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“Bulwark Aura,” he murmured, tapping the description. Warmth spread across his chest. Creates a protective field that increases nearby allies’ physical resistance by ten percent.
Next was Unyielding Step. Ignore movement penalties caused by rough terrain, debris, or minor hindrances for a short time.
Josh grinned. “Perfect for a floor covered in blood and broken weapons,” he muttered. Then wondering about the utility of this skill, would it allow him to climb steeper areas without issue? Or even move over water?
The list continued.
Some abilities were impressive. Some made him pause. And a few made him raise an eyebrow.
Rock Throw Enables the user to pick up a small stone and throw it, drawing their attention and doing damage.
Josh squinted. “Why would a guardian need to throw pebbles?”
Shield Polishing - A cosmetic skill that increases the shine of the user’s shield for thirty minutes.
He snorted. “Yes, because nothing terrifies a monster more than being able to see its reflection.”
Guard’s Patience Reduces boredom while waiting in defensive stances.
“Useful for a guard I guess… but very depressing.”
Then there were others that were almost good, but not quite.
Shield Magnetism - Temporarily increases the chance of enemy projectiles hitting your shield instead of other targets.
“That sounds… risky,” he muttered. “Or very cool. Or both.”
Heavy Brace - Locks the user’s legs in place, massively increasing defence but preventing movement entirely.
He imagined himself rooted to the spot while everyone else moved around him, and decided quickly that he would not be picking that one.
His available skill slots caught his attention next. They had risen from ten to twelve.
“Well, that is new,” he said under his breath. Brett was still lost in his own menu, face lit by shifting colours. “Guess evolving boosted my skill cap.”
He accepted Bulwark Aura and Unyielding Step immediately. Compared to rock throwing, shinier shields and not being bored, they were clearly the best.
[Do you wish to replace any existing skills with new options?]
Then he reached the familiar point in his list, and wondered if he should replace it.
Dash or Intercept.
Dash had become his lifeline since receiving it. It had saved Brett more times than Josh liked to admit. It had saved him, too. Closing gaps. Dodging danger. Getting where he needed to be.
But Intercept...
That was what a Guardian should do.
Take the hit. Stand between danger and his friends. Become the wall.
His finger hovered over the selection button. His heartbeat slowed.
He could feel the temptation crawling through him, warm and convincing. This was the skill a Guardian was meant to have.
But something held him back.
Ronald’s voice rang faintly in his head, worn and wise. “A good offence is a good defence”.
Josh closed his eyes. He pictured battles ahead. A troll charging Brett. An arrow meant for Carcan. A goblin lunging for Perberos.
Was Intercept worth losing Dash for?
He opened his eyes again.
“No,” he said quietly. “Dash stays. If I am already in the enemy’s face, Guardian’s Call will pull their attention anyway.”
He tapped to confirm his choices, and the warm sensation of connection spread through him, settling like an extra layer beneath his skin.
With everything accepted, the menu dissolved. Josh leaned back on his hands, exhaling. There was a small smile tugging at his mouth. Content. Grounded. Certain.
Being a Guardian was not about prestige or spectacle. It was not about divine favour or noble titles.
It was simple. He protected people.
He quickly distributed his stat points whilst he thought about it, placing three points into strength and constitution, and four into dexterity. He assumed constitution would now be more important than ever, but he knew keeping these other stats high would be important. For a moment he wondered what the impact of becoming a paladin would have been - if he learnt magic, would he have needed to increase his wisdom to gain access to mana? How would have have impacted his progress.
With a shrug, he finalised everything. Then, a final message pulsed gently.
[You have become a Guardian. The world will lean upon your strength.]
Heat spread through his chest. Not scorching like Brett’s flames, not holy like a paladin’s blessing. It was steady. Firm. Like a warm hand pressed over his heart.
Josh looked up. His friends were watching him.
Brett grinned. “So? What did you pick? Judging from your stupid little smile, you evolved.”
Josh raised his shield slightly. “Guardian. Looks like I will be keeping all of you alive whether you deserve it or not.”
Bhel gave a pleased grunt. “A fine choice. Someone has to stop Brett getting jumped.”
Perberos nodded once, calm and warm. “Fitting. You have been guarding us from the start.”
Carcan opened one eye, studying him. “It suits you.”
Josh let out a quiet laugh. No grand light. No dramatic revelation.
Just purpose. Solid and unyielding.
He was not simply a warrior any more.
He was their shield.
---
Josh
Level - 10
Class - Guardian
HP - 330
MP - 100
Str - 32
Dex - 25
Con - 33
Int - 10
Wis - 10
One handed weapons - Adept
Shield wielder - Adept
Armour user - Adept
Tough - Adept
Shield Slam - Adept
Dash - Basic
Counter Swing - Basic
Guardian’s Call - Adept
Shield Wall - Basic
Iron Resolve - Adept
Bulwark Aura - Adept
Unyielding Step - Adept
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